Outreach & Social Justice

"Individuals can resist injustice, but only in community can we do justice." --Jim Corbett, founder of the sanctuary movement

Casa San Miguel Food PantryClick below to see the Food Pantry in action:

​The mission statement for St Michael and All Angels Church calls for its members to “…be transformed by the love of God in our midst and sent out to serve others.” In response, the Casa San Miguel Food Pantry, located at St. Michael's, exists to reach out to serve our neighbors who are in need of assistance.

In 2015, the Food Pantry reached out and provided the following assistance:•Served 3,214 individuals and families (an increase of 15% over 2013)•Provided 4,088 standard grocery bags plus produce and bread, and meat when available, and •Began providing ten emergency food boxes each month to Heading Home, a resettlement program for the homeless.

In addition to distributing food to families, we also accomplished these needed projects:•Purchased and installed a new evaporative air conditioner to replace the inoperative air conditioner,•Replaced two wooden handicapped ramps with concrete using volunteer labor,•Refurbished the plumbing under the food pantry building using a grant from the Northwest Deanery Poverty and Outreach Board,•Contracted for the construction of a permanent ADA-compliant ramp from the parking lot to the pantry to replace a plywood ramp that was hazardous to the volunteers and to traffic,•Collected school supplies for food pantry children in July and August, and• Collected Christmas Toys for food pantry children in November/December.

All of this was made possible by the contribution of well over 4,000 hours of labor by the dedicated Food Pantry volunteers and by the loving support of the members of St. Michael and All Angels.

The success of this ministry is reflected in the continued support by the church at large, the diocese, and the growth of the people being served. While the Pantry receives funds from several sources, far and away most of the funding we receive is from the parish in Sunday morning collections. It is very humbling to know that the parish places such faith in this ministry and we will continue to serve our church by serving our neighbors in need.

Hours of Operation are:Tuesday Mornings - 9 am - 10:00

Casa San Miguel Food Pantry is an equal opportunity provider.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement:In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech dis-abilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

Dismas House

Dismas House is a reintegration community sponsored by St. Martin's Hospitality Center for people coming out of prison. Residents live in a house together with supervision and support, and St. Michael's parishioners provide them with a meal and fellowship once a month.

Community Connections

The Community Connections ministry goal is to connect St. Michael’s with the needs of the surrounding neighborhood. It presently consists of two efforts: referral to community services, and outreach to neighboring public elementary schools.

The referral part of the ministry is done in conjunction with Casa San Miguel Food Pantry on Tuesday mornings. We have a computer and a number of handouts, and our aim is to connect those in need with resources in the community. We have a listing of over 100 resources in Albuquerque which we update every 6 months, and a retired attorney who assists with legal questions from our clients. We are assisted in this effort by Safelink, a federal program to give cell phone service to those who qualify, and Catholic Charities, which signs people up for food stamps. These services are much appreciated by our clients, approximately 10-15% of whom request these services each week.

Our partnership with La Luz and MacArthur public elementary schools includes providing basic classroom supplies such as pencils, crayons, and notebooks, and also clothing items for students such as socks and underwear. We work closely with the school administration in providing what they perceive to be their greatest need.

St. Martin's Hospitality Center

St. Martin'sis a shelter for the homeless in downtown Albuquerque, sponsored by the Episcopal churches in the city. A full range of services includes showers, clothing, job referral, housing resettlement, and psychosocial services for over 300 men, women and children daily. Parishioners from St. Michael's host a Sunday breakfast following a celebration of the Eucharist once every two months. Watch in the parish bulletin for times to bring food and other needed items or to volunteer to help.

​Bread for the World

Bread for the Worldis a nationwide Christian movement that seeks justice for the world’s hungrypeople. We write and call members of the United States Congress to lobby for legislation that addresses hunger issues. At St. Michael and All Angels, we hold an annual “Offering of Letters” in which individuals write letters to their representatives in Congress. We will hold our Offering of Letters in late spring as a part of the efforts of the interfaith community in Albuquerque. Bread for the World is part of the Partnership for Mission and Advocacy (PMA) committee, which seeks to coordinate our outreach efforts at St. Michael’s. We look forward to participating along with other social justice efforts to make 2015 a breakout year for our work together. Please contact Terese Bridges at trbridges@mac.com to find out more information.

​Advocacy Ministry

St. Michael's partners with theLutheran Advocacy Ministryto keep abreast of political developments in New Mexico that are of concern to faith communities. These initiatives include participation in an annual Legislative Briefing during the legislative term, and lobbying on behalf of the congregation's concerns.

In cooperation with theNew Mexico Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Justice, St. Michael's offers opportunities for education and advocacy around issues of immigration, especially along the Mexico/United States border. These opportunities include three-day immersion experiences, both in Albuquerque and along the border itself.

In particular, St. Michael's supports the sanctuary shelter at the Albuquerque Friends Meeting House, shielding a family from likely but questionable deportation.

​St Michael's is committed to support the mission in Navajoland. The local parish, Good Shepherd, sponsors initiatives in the development of local micro-businesses, agricultural projects, and ministries to the Navajo community.